Ice maker control

Abstract

The ice maker herein works in the conventional manner wherein a refrigeration system provides for cooling of the evaporator. Water is first circulated over the evaporator as the evaporator is cooled. A temperature sensor is located in a water recirculating system and a microprocessor monitors the temperture of the circulating water. Once a predetermined non-freezing temperature is reached, for example 40 degrees Fahrenheit, water circulation is stopped. However, the compressor continues to run and cool the evaporator for a predetermined period of time to a desired lower temperature. The pump is then turned on and water again circulated over the evaporator initiating the ice making cycle. This process insures that ice adheres to the evaporator and does not prematurely slough off and/or result in the formation of slush.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for controlling an ice maker, the ice maker having a refrigeration system for providing cooling of an ice forming evaporator, and a water circulatory system for circulating water over the evaporator for forming ice thereon as the evaporator is cooled by the refrigeration system, the method comprising the steps of: 
       circulating a volume of water over the evaporator while cooling the evaporator and while sensing the temperature of the circulated volume of water,  
       stopping the circulating of the volume of water when a predetermined nonfreezing temperature of the water is sensed,  
       continuing to cool the evaporator after the stopping of the circulating of the volume of water for a period of time to permit further cooling of the evaporator, re-starting circulating of the volume of water over the evaporator for initiating an ice making cycle.  
     
     
       2. A method for controlling an ice maker, the ice maker having a refrigeration system for providing cooling of an ice forming evaporator, and a water circulatory system for circulating water over the evaporator for forming ice thereon as the evaporator is cooled by the refrigeration system, the method comprising the steps of: 
       circulating a volume of water over the evaporator while cooling the evaporator and while sensing the temperature of the circulated volume of water,  
       stopping the circulating of the water when a predetermined nonfreezing temperature of the volume of water is sensed,  
       continuing to cool the evaporator after the stopping of the circulating of the volume of water while sensing the temperature of the evaporator and re-starting circulating of the volume of water over the evaporator for initiating an ice making cycle when a predetermined initiating of ice making temperature of the evaporator is sensed.